1,000 California residents were forced to evacuate due to a 2,000-acre wildfire, officials said

At least 1,000 California residents were forced to evacuate due to a 2,000-acre wildfire, officials said. http://abcn.ws/2y5FQhA

Billy Joel dons Jewish star against Neo-Nazis

Billy Joel may wear his heart on his sleeve in his songs, but Monday night he wore the Star of David to make a statement.

Joel, whose parents are Jewish, wore the symbolic yellow stars on the front and back of his jacket while performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Billy Joel wears a jacket with the Star of David during the encore of his 43rd sold out show at Madison Square Garden on August 21, 2017 in New York City.

Those of the Jewish faith were required to wear a yellow Star of David as identification in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II.

In 2011, the “New York State of Mind” singer gave an interview in which he discussed growing up in a predominantly Christian neighborhood when he learned he was Jewish.

A little girl across the street told him, “You’re going to grow up and have horns on your head,” and Joel said for months after he would obsessively check his head…

Source: Billy Joel dons Jewish star against Neo-Nazis – CNN

X Factor singer Johnny Ruffo has undergone emergency surgery to remove brain tumour

FORMER Home and Away star and X Factor singer Johnny Ruffo has revealed he has brain cancer.

Last week, Ruffo revealed he underwent emergency surgery to have a brain tumour removed.

The 29-year-old posted images of a dramatic post-surgery scar across his forehead and another of his head bandaged while sitting in a hospital bed.

Ruffo wrote alongsi

de the images on his Instagram: “Some things in life really put things into perspective, hoping for a positive result, keep me in your thoughts x.

Home and Away star Lynne McGranger said she was “shocked” to hear Ruffo’s news.

“All of us in the Bay are shocked to hear of Johnny’s sudden illness,” she said.

“It goes without saying that he is so loved and we wish him a speedy and complete recovery and can’t wait to see him tearing up the stage again soon.”

Johnny Ruffo. Picture: Christian GillesSource:News Corp Australia

Source: Singer Johnny Ruffo has undergone emergency surgery to remove brain tumour

Boat full of migrants lands on a popular tourist beach in southern Spain; CLIP

The moment a boat full of migrants lands on a popular tourist beach in southern Spain http://pic.twitter.com/2eDMFuJqlK

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 10, 2017

Trump’s behavior is the biggest threat to U.S. national security. CEO would have been replaced

Confusing civility with comity is a grave mistake in human or international relations. Yes, the Group of 20 summit issued a common communique after the leaders’ meeting. Some see this as an indication that some normality is being restored in international relations between the United States and other countries. The truth is that at no previous G-20 did the possibility occur to anyone that a common statement might not be agreed to by all participants.

Rather than considering agreement on a communique as an achievement, it is more honest and accurate to see its content as a confirmation of the breakdown of international order that many have feared since Donald Trump’s election. And the president’s behavior in and around the summit was unsettling to U.S. allies and confirmed the fears of those who believe that his conduct is currently the greatest threat to American national security.

The existence of the G-20 as an annual forum arose out of a common belief of major nations in a global community with common interests in peace, mutual security, prosperity and economic integration, and the containment of global threats, even as there was competition among nations in the security and economic realms. The idea that the United States should lead in the development of international community has been a central tenet of American foreign policy since the end of World War II. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the aspiration to international community has been an aspiration to global community…

Source: Trump’s behavior is the biggest threat to U.S. national security – The Washington Post

Grenfell Tower fire: Every single sample of cladding sent for testing has failed fire safety tests

Theresa May has called for a “major national investigation” after results showed cladding on 95 buildings has now failed tests being undertaken in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster. The newest figure was revealed at a cabinet meeting attended by the Prime Minister on Tuesday and means every building so far tested across 32 local authorities has failed. Ms May told her ministers the probe is needed to discover “what’s gone wrong” to allow the flawed cladding to be fitted to so many buildings over two decades.

Source: Grenfell Tower fire: Theresa May calls for ‘major national investigation’ after cladding on 95 buildings have now failed tests | The Independent

Obama’s secret struggle to retaliate against Putin’s election interference

The White House debated various options to punish Russia, but facing obstacles and potential risks, it ultimately failed to exact a heavy toll on the Kremlin for its election meddling.

Early last August, an envelope with extraordinary handling restrictions arrived at the White House. Sent by courier from the CIA, it carried “eyes only” instructions that its contents be shown to just four people: President Barack Obama and three senior aides.

Hacking Democracy

The White House debated various options to punish Russia, but facing obstacles and potential risks, it ultimately failed to exact a heavy toll on the Kremlin for its election interference.

Inside was an intelligence bombshell, a report drawn from sourcing deep inside the Russian government that detailed Russian President Vladi­mir Putin’s direct involvement in a cyber campaign to disrupt and discredit the U.S. presidential race.

But it went further. The intelligence captured Putin’s specific instructions on the operation’s audacious objectives — defeat or at least damage the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, and help elect her opponent, Donald Trump.

At that point, the outlines of the Russian assault on the U.S. election were increasingly apparent. Hackers with ties to Russian intelligence services had been rummaging through Democratic Party computer networks, as well as some Republican systems, for more than a year. In July, the FBI had opened an investigation of contacts between Russian officials and Trump associates. And on July 22, nearly 20,000 emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee were dumped online by WikiLeaks.

But at the highest levels of government, among those responsible for managing the crisis, the first moment of true foreboding about Russia’s intentions arrived with that CIA intelligence.

The material was so sensitive that CIA Director John Brennan kept it out of the President’s Daily Brief, concerned that even that restricted report’s distribution was too broad. The CIA package came with instructions that it be returned immediately after it was read. To guard against leaks, subsequent meetings in the Situation Room followed the same protocols as planning sessions for the Osama bin Laden raid.

//www.washingtonpost.com/video/c/embed/1a333f16-57f4-11e7-840b-512026319da7

 

Source: Obama’s secret struggle to retaliate against Putin’s election interference – Washington Post

Ransomware strikes University College London

Ransomware is a form of malicious software which locks the files on a victim’s computer until they pay a ransom to the cybercriminal.

After a widespread attack targeted UCL, the institution was forced to disconnect large parts of its IT system.

It is not known how similar the malicious software is to the WannaCry ransomware which infected NHS computers in May.

The university’s information services division claimed its virus checkers did not show any suspicious activity or catch the attack.

UCL believes the malware was able to infect its systems through phishing emails – emails which contain malicious links or attachments – which a user was tricked into clicking on.

There are many reasons a virus checker could have failed to catch the phishing emails – including it not being particularly good.

Source: Ransomware strikes University College London

Tokyo subway shut down over fears of North Korean attack

One of Tokyo’s major subways systems says it shut down all lines for 10 minutes after receiving warning of a North Korean missile launch.

Tokyo Metro official Hiroshi Takizawa says the temporary suspension affected 13,000 passengers this morning.

Service was halted on all nine lines at 6:07 am and was resumed at 6:17 am after it was clear there was no threat to Japan.

Takizawa said it was the first time service had been stopped in response to a missile launch.

Train services are generally suspended in Japan immediately after large earthquakes.  

The transport shutdown came after a North Korean missile test failed this morning.

The ballistic missile was fired to the northeast around 5:30 a.m. from the Pukchang area, north of Pyongyang, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

He said firing a missile would be ‘a clear violation of U.N. security council resolutions.’

He added that Japan ‘cannot accept repeated provocation by North Korea’ and had ‘lodged a strong protest against North Korea.’

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says the missile flew for several minutes and reached a maximum height of 44 miles before it failed.

South Korea says it’s still analyzing what type of missile the North fired.

MORE HERE: Tokyo subway shut down over fears of North Korean attack | Daily Mail Online

#F1 world champ Nico Rosberg returns to the Track-‘…drivers are going to be gladiators’

He may have called time on his Formula One career after winning a maiden world title last season but it seems Nico Rosberg can’t keep away from the track.

‘Cars look monstrous and drivers are going to be gladiators’

The 31-year-old stunned F1 last year when he quit the sport just five days after sensationally beating team-mate Lewis Hamilton to the 2016 world championship.

But the German driver attended pre-season testing in Barcelona on Wednesday to check out the new-look 2017 cars.

Source: F1 world champ Nico Rosberg returns to the Mercedes garage | Daily Mail Online

#F1: Mick Schumacher welcome to join our junior programme – Ferrari

Schumacher, son of seven-time world champion Michael, has impressed during the early stages of his motorsport career, having finished second in ADAC Formula 4 and Italian F4 with Prema. This year he will make his F3 debut.

Source: Formula 1: Mick Schumacher welcome to join our junior programme – Ferrari – Motorsport Week